Couch-bed.



No. 792,799. 'PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

H. F. SOWLE.

COUCH BED.

APPLICATION FILED my 8, 19oz. RENEWED NOV. 18. 1904."

2 sums-sum 1.

, a a a d ufz'inesseaz P jnzfczfiorz (ii 3. L8 52 M 2/ l No. 792,799.PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

' H. P. SOWLE.

COUCH BED.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 8, 1902. RENEWED NOV. 18. 1904.

2 SHEETS4-SHEET 2.

c [I d 7 v 1/ fig,

ZI/i in e sxs" e 6 9 j z/er fiarg WW7 7/%/'%M STATES Patented June 20,1905.

PATENT FFICE.

COUCH-BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,799, dated June 20,1905.

Application filed May 8, 1902. Renewed November 18, 1904. Serial No.233,270-

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT F. SOWLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, county of Sulfolk, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Couch-Beds, of which thefollowing is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enableany person skilled in the art or science to which said inventionappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my improved couch-bed frame, thetwo sections being opened. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of thesame. Fig. 3 represents a front elevation showing the supplementalsection as collapsed. Fig. & represents a central cross-section, theparts being opened. Fig. 5 represents a similar View, the supplementalsection being within the main section. Fig. 6 represents a detailhereinafter referred to. Fig. 7 represents a sectional detail of thecorner angle-irons on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

The same reference characters indicate the same or similar partsthroughout the several Views.

In general characteristics the invention claimed herein resembles thatdescribed in my application, Serial N 0. 98,876, filed March 19, 1902.In that a main section and a supplemental section are so combined thatby collapsing the latter it may be slid under and concealed Within themain section. In the present form, as well as that in my said otherapplication, I provide means whereby the supplernental section may besupported by foldable legs independent of the main section, and I also,as in that case, provide means whereby the supplemental section whenprepared for use will be in the plane of the top of the main section.

' The particular object of the present invention is to simplify thestructure shown in said prior application and also to provide a springfor resisting the folding movement of the legs, which springcounterbalances to a large degree the weight of the upper part or frameof the collapsible section.

On the accompanying drawings the main frame is indicated as a whole at Aand comprises side bars 6 and end bars 0, said frame being supported byangle-iron legs (Z, the lower ends of which are provided with casters 0.The side bars Z) are connected by bracestrapsf, and I preferably connectone or more of said brace-straps f with the side bars by means ofangular braces g.

The supplemental collapsible section is represented as a whole at B andcomprises side bars 5 end bars 0 braces f and angular straps or bracesg. As thus far described the construction of the supplemental frame issubstantially similar to that of the main frame; but said supplementalframe is shorter than the main frame in order that it may pass under themain frame between the legs (Z thereof.

The supplemental section instead of having rigid legs is provided withlegs /L, which are pivoted, as at i, to suitable blocks under thecorners of the frame, and said legs are connected by links m with alever 7, having a handle 7:), said lever 1' being pivoted to the frontside bar 5 It will be readily understood from the above description,with the accompanying drawings, that the lever may be swung on itspivot, so as to, through the links m, cause the legs [L to be eitherheld in the position shown in Fig. 2 or to be folded as shown in Fig. 3,so that the top frame will rest upon said legs.

In order to prevent the folding operation from being too sudden andnoisy and also to facilitate the raising of the mattress-frame c of thesupplemental section B, I connect a spring 1) with one of the links, theother end of said spring being connected to a suitable portion of theupper frame.

The lower end of each leg 7: is provided with two casters, swiveledthereto and arranged at a right angle to each other. The caster p ofeach leg is adapted to rest in contact with the floor when the leg is inupright position, and the caster q of each leg rests upon the floor whenthe leg is folded. Inasmuch as it is desirable that the supplementalsection may be freely moved to more or less extent on the floor eitherwhen collapsed or when expanded, these casters serve a very usefulpurpose, particularly owing to their being swiveled, since this willpermit of the free movement of the bed as a whole, includ ing the twosections, whether the collapsible section is within the main section ornot.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the rear side bar 6 isextended or made to project at each end, so as to form stops r,cooperating with the flanges of the legs 0?, to prevent accidentalseparation of the two sections of the bed. It will be observed, however,by referring to Fig. 1 that. the front flanges of the legs cl aredisconnected from the front bar?) of the main section, so as to leave aslight space which will permit the projecting ends or stops 9 to belifted through said space to entirely disconnect the two sections,

and thus permit either section to be used independently as a narrow bed.In other words, this construction enables the two sections to beentirely separated, so that each can be used as a narrow bed, eachhaving a firm leg-support; but when not entirely separated the twosections may be used together as a wide bed, both mattress-supportsbeing in the same plane.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that 1 provide a flange S oneach of the forward legs of the main body, which serve to direct theupward throw of the frame of the supplemental section, the projectingends or stops 9" moving up between the flanges Sand the adjacent flangesof the legs (Z, the space between each flange S and the adjacent flangeof the leg (Z being open to the top to permit the separation of the twosections, as above described.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the end bars of the bottomframe of the main section A are chamfered. at t, and the end bars 0 ofthe collapsible member B are provided with lugs or projections o a), sothat when the section B is being pushed in under the section A saidsection B will not engage the squared ends, but will be directed inhorizontal or parallel lines without stop or hitch.

It is to be understood that the top frames of both sections A and Bconstitute mattresssupports, which are to be covered by mattresses in anordinary manner-sucl1 as disclosed, for instance, in my application,Serial No. 98,876, filed March 19, 1902and their angle-- iron frames areparticularly adapted for this purpose.

.In the use of the invention, the parts being in the position shown inFig. 3, if it is desired to adjust the couch for use with its full widththe section B is drawn out from the member A until, the stop 9 engagesthe front legs kl of the section A. Then the operator shifts the handle7:; from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2,which will cause the extension r to slide upward between the by means ofthe casters 1.

flanges S and the legs d and insure vertical movement of the top frameof the supplemental section. As soon as the handle approaches a verticalposition the spring 79' is unable to exert its force, friction betweenthe legs 7t and the floor being meanwhile avoided As soon as the springbegins to exert its force no further exertion is necessary by theoperator, as said spring will complete the upward movement or expansionof the collapsible section. When the parts reach the position shown inFig. 2, the legs h are supported on the casters 1), and the upper barsIf of the collapsible section register with the upper frame of the mainsection in position to receive the mattresses in a single or uniformplane. The parts are locked against accidental collapsing by the lever jbeing beyond the center.

By reversing the described direction of movement of the lever j all ofthe parts will quickly move to the position shown in Fig. 3, after whichthe collapsible section can be pushed under the main section.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way ofconstructing and using the same, although without attempting to setforth all of the forms in which it may be made or all ofthe modes of itsuse, I declare that what I claim is- 1. An interconvertible bed andcouch comprising a main section and a supplemental section, the latterhaving foldable legs and a spring for resisting the folding movement ofthe legs, the said foldable legs being capable of supporting saidsupplemental section separately from the main section and in a uniformplane therewith.

2. An interconvertible bed and couch comprising a main section and asupplemental collapsible section having a top frame, legs for supportingthe latter independently of the main section, said legs being pivoted tosaid top frame, a lever centrally pivoted to the top frame, and linksconnecting said lever with the legs.

3. An interconvertible bed and couch comprising a main section and asupplemental collapsible section having a top frame, legs for supportingthe latter independently of the main section, said legs being pivoted tosaid top frame, a lever centrally pivoted to the top frame, linksconnecting said lever with the legs, and a spring for resisting thefolding movement of the legs.

4. An interconvertible bed and couch comprising a main section and asupplemental section, the latter being collapsible and movable under themain section and having its rear bar provided with extensions adapted toengage the front legs of the main section, the two sections presentingmattress-supports in a uniform plane when the supplemental section isprepared for use, and said supplemental section having means whereby itmay be separated from the main section and used while themattress-supports of the two sections are in the same plane.

5. An interconvertible bed and couch comprising a main section and asupplemental section, the latter consisting of atop frame, legs forsupporting the latter independently of the main section, said legs beingpivoted to said frame at the ends thereof, a lever pivoted to the frame,and links connecting the pivoted legs with the lever at opposite sidesof the pivot of the latter.

6. An interconvertible bed and couch comprising a main section and asupplemental section, the latter consisting of an angle-iron top frame,legs for supporting the latter independently of the main section, saidlegs being pivoted to said frame at the ends thereof, a lever pivoted tothe frame, links connecting the pivoted legs with the lever at oppositesides of the pivot of the latter, and a spring connecting one of saidlinks with the frame.

7. A collapsible couch having foldable legs, the lower ends of said legshaving swiveled casters at right angles to each other, said castersbeing independently connected with the legs.

8. A collapsible couch comprising a frame having legs pivoted thereto,each of said legs being provided with two casters projecting at rightangles to each other from the lower end of each leg, each pair of thesaid casters being independently connected with its leg.

HERBERT F. SOWLE.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH 0. Ross, EUGENE A. FARREN.

